Rumor: Offseason Rumors Thread #1 | Much to be Done Before September?

The last thread was at 7K+ posts and ran its course. It's the offseason for us, we got a new goalie, should have some new coaching hires and hopefully some good player acquisitions to right the ship after it sank last season.

The last thread was at 7K+ posts and ran its course. It's the offseason for us, we got a new goalie, should have some new coaching hires and hopefully some good player acquisitions to right the ship after it sank last season.

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I want to be excited for next season.

I like a our goaltending situation. There’s a lot of ways it could play out, but I’m hoping for Talbot having a better season and the new guy being capable.

I’m worried about the coaching. It’s the sort of thing where we now all know what the changes are. If you were hoping for more, then you’ll have to wait, so there’s no use beating the drum — and the same goes for the GM. I hope that this coming season we’ll see more adjustments and accountability.

I’m not as concerned about player acquisitions this offseason. The difference for next year will be on the coaches ability to get the most out of the roster. I believe in the guys that are here, and if a right shooting offensive D happens to join the team, I’ll believe in him too.

Speaking of right shooting D, any chance Larsson could develop a shot?

I think McLellan has maximum 20 games and if we aren’t at .500 by then he is gone. If he makes it past that but we don’t make the playoffs he is gone.

If we don’t make the playoffs Chiarelli is gone.

If we do make the playoffs next year I think both will stay for the season after, especially if we make it past round 1.

I think/hope Talbot will bounce back and put up a .915-.920 season. I think the guy we just signed will prove to be a capable backup but nothing more than that.

I really think Chia/Gretzky have a specific player or 2 in mind for the 10th pick and if they can’t get the guy they want Chia will try to move the pick with another piece for a RHD. Probably Faulk from Carolina because he just had a meh season and his value is probably the lowest it’s ever been.

I think Klefbom will come back healthy and look like/improve upon 2016/2017 Klefbom. I think Nurse will continue to develop and establish himself as a true all around top 4 D.

I think Lucic will have a better season and play (mostly) up to his contract next year.

I think both Bear and Yamamoto make the team out of camp. Yamamoto stays for ~30 games and goes to the AHL. Bear sticks in the NHL and may not play in the AHL ever again.

Puljuarvi puts up ~50 points if he isn’t the piece that gets traded with the 10th pick which I have a feeling he might be.

Really wonder what it'd take to get Faulk here. He'd round out our defense quite nicely and him and Sekera had good chemistry back in the days. Would give us three fairly strong and balanced pairings.

Klefbom-Larsson
Sekera-Faulk
Nurse-Russell

or

Nurse-Larsson
Klefbom-Russell
Sekera-Faulk

or

Klefbom-Larsson
Sekera-Russell
Nurse-Faulk

Doesn't really matter how you do it. That's a pretty nice looking defense IMO, and Faulk should really help out the PP.

Question is how much you give up for him. I could see the #10 being moved (maybe with another smaller piece coming with Faulk). Not sure how I like the value of that. Helps the team a lot in the short-term, but sacrifices the future and with Maroon and Eberle gone I'm not sure this team have the offensive firepower to contend in the next two years (that Faulk is signed for). Pulju and Yamamoto are probably still 2 years away from being impact players, so it would depend on what type of trade and (cheap) UFA acquisitions you could make. Not sure who is out there.

There's some tough decisions ahead this summer. Really hope the Oilers have a strong long-term plan in place and won't just waste assets in an effort for the GM and HC to save their jobs.

I really don't understand the rationale of moving Klefbom. At 24 years old he has proven to be a top 4 D, and shown the ability to score from the blueline. I understand that he struggled last season, but we have been told that a shoulder injury had a lot to do with his struggles. Why are we trying to move a top 4 D signed for 5 more years at 4.1 per? For a team that still has a big issue on the blueline it makes no sense.

I'm not a big stats guy, but based on watching the game, I would be led to believe that we are still one of the worst teams in the league for giving up scoring chances, and I would be led to believe that even though we made it to the second round the year before, we were one of the worst teams that year as well....just masked by a goalie who made some really big saves. (Come on stats guys....prove me wrong (or right)).

Our focus needs to be on building our D corps. Just because we have Nurse/Klefbom/Sekera/Russell/Larsson/Benning/Bear doesn't mean we have the luxury of trading a D for wingers. Our defense is barely passable still. We need to upgrade and develop where we can.

I really don't understand the rationale of moving Klefbom. At 24 years old he has proven to be a top 4 D, and shown the ability to score from the blueline. I understand that he struggled last season, but we have been told that a shoulder injury had a lot to do with his struggles. Why are we trying to move a top 4 D signed for 5 more years at 4.1 per? For a team that still has a big issue on the blueline it makes no sense.

Our focus needs to be on building our D corps. Just because we have Nurse/Klefbom/Sekera/Russell/Larsson/Benning/Bear doesn't mean we have the luxury of trading a D for wingers. Our defense is barely passable still. We need to upgrade and develop where we can.

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Agreed that Klefa shouldn't be moved. Nobody wanted to move him last off-season. It all depends if his dropoff in play last season was due more to injury or regression to his mean as a player.

Not sure if barely passable is fair for the defence. Sekera, Klefa and Larsson all fought injuries last year. Is there a team in the league that could have three of their top four defenceman injured for a full season between the three of them and not play really poorly?

I don't think Faulk ends up being a major upgrade. Sekera, Klefa, Russell (if he agrees to go) or Larsson have to go to make it work.

Bear could end up being the RHS/PP specialist answer for the team. Gotta develop internally at some point.

I will say that I dont understand the idea of 'Wasting McDavid's Prime Years" Crosby and Malkin were in their 29-31 age range for their last 2 cup wins. Those 2 players still make the Penguins a constant cup threat. Lets develop from with in. Keep Pulju, Keep the pick!

I’ve been up and down this roster, our prospect pool, and its just depressing. Too many holes in the team as it is currently constructed, too little cap space, too many crippling NO Movement Clauses, too few internal candidates who can grow, and zero trade assets that wont open up just another hole. Chiarelli has completely and totally boxed this team in with no discernible avenues to improve. The only faint hopes are that the existing roster will vastly improve (which still wont get us remotely close to a Cup) or at least two miracle home run picks at the draft (think Colton Parayko in the 4th round kind of miracle). Talbot and Klefbom bouncing back and Lucic somehow turning into a hockey player instead of a garbage can with legs MIGHT be enough to get us into the playoffs, but any team with Ty Rattie on the top line and Kris Russell in the top 4 on his off hand doesnt have a chance in hell against the likes of Winnipeg, Nashville, Pittsburgh etc. I’d list some moves that might help, but they are such long shots that I wont even bother. FML.

A Complimentary offensive forward with a history of clicking with good players, a #1 C for Bakersfield with NHL potential and a right-shot dman who could step right into the lineup and create flexibility with other roster players.

I will say that I dont understand the idea of 'Wasting McDavid's Prime Years" Crosby and Malkin were in their 29-31 age range for their last 2 cup wins. Those 2 players still make the Penguins a constant cup threat. Lets develop from with in. Keep Pulju, Keep the pick!

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I agree, the only way to win in a cap league is consistently good drafting and developing. After the decade long OBC **** show in that department I am hopeful we have turned a corner with Kieth Gretzky running the draft and a new coaching staff that is in synch with the Oilers staff and whose mandate is to develop vs win. Winning is a byproduct of good development so we will wait and see how the new hires in Bakersfield will do for us.

Keep the #10 pick, keep Klefbom, keep PJ. The only way you trade any of those assets is for an absolute clear cut win and I am not sure our GM can make that happen. I would see what it takes to get Carlson or Tavares to sign here. Its a pipe dream but it is possible to go after one of them is if you can clear out one of Russell and Sekera along with Lucic however the NMC they have says no. I would be moving Kassian out, too expensive to play 4th line here.

I agree, the only way to win in a cap league is consistently good drafting and developing.

I would see what it takes to get Carlson or Tavares to sign here. Its a pipe dream but it is possible to go after one of them is if you can clear out one of Russell and Sekera along with Lucic however the NMC they have says no. I would be moving Kassian out, too expensive to play 4th line here.

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Ignoring the impossibility of moving Lucic, how is signing Carlson or Tavares consistent with a philosophy of winning through the draft and player development?

It's a touch high, but the fact that they don't have a guy making 7+ like a lot of teams means you can spread the money around.

Sekera-Faulk is ~10
Klefbom-Larsson is ~8
Russell-Nurse is ~8

26-ish is workable in this league, especially as the cap goes up. Plus the team likely won't have any big contracts in the bottom 6.

Honestly I don't mind this team's defence, but it has an obvious flaw in its lack of offence. The fact that most all the current offensive options are LH, also is a bad fit for a team whose go-to forwards all love to QB the play from the RW half wall.

I don't think this team needs a "4th forward", like a Schultz or Green though (it would help), a healthy Sekera already provides that. Rather they need a guy that can be a threat from the point/top of the key. Adding a shooter like Faulk fixes that issue.

I’ve been up and down this roster, our prospect pool, and its just depressing. Too many holes in the team as it is currently constructed, too little cap space, too many crippling NO Movement Clauses, too few internal candidates who can grow, and zero trade assets that wont open up just another hole. Chiarelli has completely and totally boxed this team in with no discernible avenues to improve. The only faint hopes are that the existing roster will vastly improve (which still wont get us remotely close to a Cup) or at least two miracle home run picks at the draft (think Colton Parayko in the 4th round kind of miracle). Talbot and Klefbom bouncing back and Lucic somehow turning into a hockey player instead of a garbage can with legs MIGHT be enough to get us into the playoffs, but any team with Ty Rattie on the top line and Kris Russell in the top 4 on his off hand doesnt have a chance in hell against the likes of Winnipeg, Nashville, Pittsburgh etc. I’d list some moves that might help, but they are such long shots that I wont even bother. FML.

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except this roster as it is made the playoffs and looked great doing it, last season. The only major difference was the Eberle-Strome trade, and I doubt that Eberle was linchpin of the team.

And sure, a lot of players had good years that year, and we were very healthy, but lots of players had bad years this season, and we had weird issues. We know for a fact that Larsson, Klefbom, Sekera, and Talbot are better than what we saw this season. Lucic probably is too.

Also, every team has an identity and advantage. Ours is that we have McDavid and Drai down the middle, and that is a starting point that most teams would love to start with. Our defense is also deep considering that we could even have Russell on the bottom pairing this season, and although it lacks offensive dimension, adding even one key player there would radically shift that.

It is interesting on a team that has exactly three skaters with NMCs those are the three guys you propose to try and move to make the pipe dream a reality.

Pipe dreams are fun and all but there has to be some reality. Carlson is gonna get $6M at minimum, and probably more. Tavares gets $10M.

Carlson might be a possibility in some perfect world. Why would the Oilers want to sign Tavares? That could only really happen with Draisaitl getting shipped out.

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You are completely misreading my post. A pipe dream is not a proposal. It is wishful thinking. I did not propose to ship out the NMCs, I said those would have to be the guys we would have to move in order to make it work. In other words, it is not realistic.

As for reality, you can fit one of Carlson or Tavares in but then pieces have to go in order to fit under the cap. Carlson will take at least $8M not 6, Tavares will be $10M minimum, I am thinking unless he resigns with NYI for 8 years, he will be offered $11 x 7 by someone. So that would mean one of RNH or Draisatl would have to moved out.

But a GM is not doing their job if they do not inquire what the ask is.

I will say that I dont understand the idea of 'Wasting McDavid's Prime Years" Crosby and Malkin were in their 29-31 age range for their last 2 cup wins. Those 2 players still make the Penguins a constant cup threat. Lets develop from with in. Keep Pulju, Keep the pick!

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Rushing to make the team good for Mcdavid is why we made the Reinhart and Larsson trades, signed Lucic and have no prospects or depth. If we stayed the course we would have ended up being a powerhouse. Now there’s talk about trading the 10th OA, Klefbom and JP for what could be just a short term fix.

I am not sure what to think or expect going into next season. I am interested (but also scared) to see what Chiarelli does.

Considering what Gallant has done with Vegas's defense, I think TM and assistants need to adjust their system to try and get the puck out of their zone quicker and more effectively. This year and (the year before to some extent), the Oilers got pinned in their own zone way too often. Larsson, Nurse, Klefbom are good enough players that they should be able to get the puck out of their zone better. That being said I dont have a lot of faith in TM to adjust his systems in the modern game. We can bring in new players but if there is a problem with the system it really doesnt matter too much.

The coaching staff also needs to fix the special teams. The powerplay was awful last year. They need some new PP systems where its more creative and less predictable. I would rather see a assistant coach who has some offensive creativity in this spot. When you have players like McDavid and Drai, theres no excuse for the PP to be awful even without a RD. The penalty kill was awful last year but did get better as the year went on. If the rumours about Yawney are true, I think its a good fit. He ran a really good PK in anaheim and their defenseman improved by leaps and bounds while he was there. So I am at least hopeful on the PK part.

I personally think the Oilers need to keep Klefbom, Larsson and Nurse and continue to build. I dont really see the point of trading either of these players unless the deal makes sense (which I personally cant see many possibilities of). They have quite a bit of money tied up on their defense. I think the smartest thing to do is move one or both of Sekera and/or Russell. Both have nmc's till next year, Sekera is coming off a bad year and will be hard to move (if hes even willing to move) and I personally cant see Russell waiving his nmc unless its to Calgary or something. I think Sekera will rebound next year. I personally think its better to leave the defense as is, (unless they can move Russell) and just bring in some cheaper depth or maybe more of specialty cheap PP guy (who is not a top 4) until prospects are ready.

I do think they have some issues on the wings. They have a lot of holes and despite Chiarelli saying its adequate, I certainly dont think it is. Hard to know what he meant by that comment. This team needs 3 new wingers at a minimum I would say. They certainly need to give Draisaitl some good help. They are going to need to bring in some cheap wingers that can succeed. They really need to do their research on this one because they dont have a lot of cap space. I think it would be foolish to just pencil someone like Yamamoto into the line up. If hes ready, then hes ready. But he shouldnt make the team because theres no competition for the spot. I also think they shouldnt be penciling someone like Rattie into the lineup. Team just has way too many fringe players on the wings. I dont think Chiarelli is really in a bad situation here, but hes got some work to do. Correctly identifying cheap players for depth would really improve the team though.

Goaltending is a question mark. Talbot has been inconsistent but the defense hasnt helped him much. But he needs to be better next year. Hopefully Koskinen signing pushes him. There isnt much in terms of UFA goalies, so I understand why Koskinen makes sense. Hard to know what you have in goaltending, but I can see the rational of what they did. Even if the 2.5mil back up seems a bit high based on NHL experience, its relatively risk free and not a total panic move. All the goalies should be hungry for new contracts, so hopefully we have some success at this position.

The team should just be patient and make trades when they make sense and improve their depth. Continue to draft and develop, which takes time. Chiarelli has improved the AHL depth since he become GM (one of the few positives but it would of been much better without the Reinhart trade so meh).

Everyone wants this team to win now. Chiarellis job is on the line. I think we are going to see some short sighted moves where the future is sacrificed. I hope I am wrong.

As for reality, you can fit one of Carlson or Tavares in but then pieces have to go in order to fit under the cap. Carlson will take at least $8M not 6, Tavares will be $10M minimum, I am thinking unless he resigns with NYI for 8 years, he will be offered $11 x 7 by someone. So that would mean one of RNH or Draisatl would have to moved out.

But a GM is not doing their job if they do not inquire what the ask is.

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You've made the point repeatedly, but to what end? Call whoever their agents are and have a chat with them. Great. Chia will apparently have done his job with that.

Taveres doesn't make sense. C is the strongest position on this team. This team needs wingers and a PP specialist on D. Carlson would be a great addition, but after the 'call a GM doing their job makes' it's probably clear he's not cap friendly enough.

It's tough. RHS defencemen are truly at a premium. Hopefully Bear is ready to joing the team after another year to mature in Bako. Where Chia can find a one-year stop gap?

You've made the point repeatedly, but to what end? Call whoever their agents are and have a chat with them. Great. Chia will apparently have done his job with that.

Taveres doesn't make sense. C is the strongest position on this team. This team needs wingers and a PP specialist on D. Carlson would be a great addition, but after the 'call a GM doing their job makes' it's probably clear he's not cap friendly enough.

It's tough. RHS defencemen are truly at a premium. Hopefully Bear is ready to joing the team after another year to mature in Bako. Where Chia can find a one-year stop gap?

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Perhaps there is a desire for a player to come here, perhaps there is a deal to be made, who knows but assuming it’s a dead end is folly.

We need wingers I agree however C can play wing. If we landed Tavares I’d assume RNH would be moved, perhaps to Mtl for their 3rd, and Tavares plays behind McDavid and Drai moves to McDavids RW. Having an abundance of Centers gives a team huge flexibility.

As for a one year stop gap, looking at the free agent pool it’s like last year, there isn’t anyone and if there were I think nobody signs for one year term.

I'm not as doom and gloom as most people and I personally think we are on the right track.

1.a. Koskinen should be a major upgrade on the junk we've had the last couple years. Gustavsson, Brossoit, and Montoya were auto-losses and could not be relied on at all. Would be nice to have a backup that we can expect to give us a good shot at a win. UPGRADE.

1.b. The fact that there isn't an AHL calibre goalie behind Talbot, should push him to play much better than last year. In addition, Koskinen should play a decent chunk of games allowing Talbot to be more fresh throughout the season. A healthy goalie competition is good. UPGRADE.

2.a. Coaches changes. Terrible PP should be improved. UPGRADE.

2.b. Coaches changes. Terrible PK should be improved. UPGRADE.

The off-season has barely started. With a couple minor moves (no major player transactions so far), we seem to be on the right track. Obviously we have some holes to address, but these minor moves so far have addressed some of the major underlying issues we had last year and have set the stage for more moves to come.

Last year was deemed death by a thousand cuts, these few moves should help to address that (poor backup, untimely goals, bad pk, bad pp, shorthanded goals against), now we can focus on are more major holes like a puck-moving dman and winger depth.

Do people honestly believe Montreal will give up the third overall for RNH? Come on. I like Nuge, and I think he's valuable, but there is a 0% chance they make a trade like that 1 for 1. They get a choice between a winger with 40 goal potential(Zadina/Wahlstrom/Svechnikov) or a dman with #1 potential(Boqvist/Hughes/Dobson).

RNH has 5 years until he is 30. The guy they draft has 12. I like Nuge, but he is not a #1 C. They aren't moving #3 for him. And for that matter, why do we want to move a proven asset like RNH for magic beans? We need depth prospects at every position and high end D prospects. Stop the madness. Draft D, develop from within. Focus heavily on our 2nd and third round picks and spend money on development. That is the winning formula....